I stepped firmly onto the gravel and approached the veranda.
A silhouette swayed behind the shoji screen—the graceful shadow of a woman with long hair.
Something overwhelming radiated from within.
The air grew heavy. A presence so dense it felt like it was physically crushing the breath from my lungs enveloped me.
Was this... magic?
No, it was something more fundamental—
Driven by a need to know, I took another step forward.
In that instant, a voice resounded from the other side of the screen.
“Know your place, fool.”
The voice was heavy, bewitching, and saturated with an absolute, crushing authority.
The moment I heard it, my entire body froze. I couldn't move. Like a small animal caught in the gaze of a colossal predator, my muscles seized, leaving me unable to twitch so much as a finger.
“Do you believe your current self is worthy of beholding my face?”
My heart hammered against my ribs.
Fear—pure, primal terror—shot up my spine. Every hair on my body stood on end. My knees buckled; my hands shook. Forgetting even to breathe, I stood there, rooted to the spot.
The owner of the voice continued with measured slowness.
“You are not even permitted to draw near. You would do well to learn the limits of your own standing.”
Cold sweat trickled down my forehead. My throat was bone-dry. Deep in my subconscious, a small, desperate part of me wished for a quick death over this suffering.
What is this? What on earth is this terror?!
I had endured Claude’s grueling training. In my previous life, I had worked myself to death. But this fear was on a completely different dimension. It felt as if the world itself were rejecting me—as if an insurmountable wall of power were being thrust into my face.
Damn it.
At this rate, I’ll never move forward.
Trembling, I managed to squeeze the words out.
“...W-who... are you...?”
Silence followed. A long, agonizing silence.
Eventually, a ripple of laughter leaked from behind the shoji.
“Fufufu... Do you still not understand?”
The voice was mocking, yet it held a hint of amusement. In response to my struggle, the owner of the voice finally answered.
“I am the will that resides within what you mortals call Ancient Magic.”
A will? A consciousness dwelling inside Ancient Magic?
There had been no such lore in the original game. But then, this was no longer just a game; it was reality. Was this a truth the game had simply never shown?
“Y-your name...?”
The voice laughed again.
“There is no need for you to know my name. You do not yet possess the right to even utter it.”
The harsh words pierced my chest. I wasn’t recognized; I was being dismissed as fundamentally inadequate.
Even so, I couldn't stop. My teeth chattered with terror, and my instincts screamed that I would die if I spoke another word. I crushed those emotions and forced the words out anyway.
“That won't do. I’m going to master Ancient Magic!”
I tried to force my paralyzed limbs to move.
“I believe I told you to know your place.”
In an instant, the weight pressing down on me intensified tenfold. No—it wasn't gravity. It was pure, overwhelming power, crushing me against the earth.
My knees gave way. My hands were slammed into the dirt. My head followed, my forehead forced down into the gravel.
I was held in a humiliating kowtow. I couldn’t even attempt to resist. I didn’t even have the mental capacity to feel shame; I couldn't move a finger, and my thoughts were sluggish. My entire being was dominated by the simple, raw fear of being erased.
I knew with absolute certainty that if this entity truly intended it, she could turn me to dust in a heartbeat. The gap in our power was that absolute.
Was I going to die here, as easily as an insect?
“Hohoho... A fine posture. That is the sight most fitting for you now.”
The mocking voice rained down from above. I was filled with a bitter frustration, but I was powerless. I could only grit my teeth while crawling in the dirt.
“If you wish for an audience, it would be troublesome if you broke at this level. Begone.”
The world began to melt. The gravel and the house faded away like a waking dream. My body felt as though it were plunging into a bottomless abyss.
“But, well... I do not entirely dislike those who possess reckless courage.”
The entity’s tone softened with a small, playful smile.
“I suppose I shall grant you a reward for reaching this far.”
My consciousness plunged into darkness.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
When I came to, I was slumped over my desk.
The grimoire, the Imperial Book of Weather Control, remained open before me. Had I fallen asleep while reading? Was it all just a dream?
No.
It had been far too vivid for a dream. That terror, that pressure, the resonance of her voice—it was all too real.
I traced the cover of the Imperial Book of Weather Control with my fingers.
I am the will that resides within what you mortals call Ancient Magic.
That was what she had said. Through this book, I had somehow made contact with her.
“What on earth was that?”
I searched my memories of the game, but I couldn't find a single scrap of information that matched that encounter. To be honest, I never wanted to experience that again, but if I intended to pursue Ancient Magic, it was likely an unavoidable path.
Things are getting complicated.
I wanted to investigate further, but I couldn't stay focused on the mystery alone. I noticed a change within myself. I could clearly feel a new power dwelling inside me.
I recalled her final words.
I suppose I shall grant you a reward for reaching this far.
She had sounded as if she were teasing me. Had a mere whim of hers granted me something?
I stood up. My heart was thundering, but the fear from earlier had transformed into a surge of excitement. I wanted to test it—I had to test this power right now!
Driven by that impulse, I was already bolting out of the room.